Osteogenetic-pneumopedic appliance, system, and method

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention consists of a non-rigid, epigenetic-pneumopedic appliance comprising a wire-type framework supporting bow, bands, brackets or a clasp. The appliance includes active elements adapted to provide brief doses of cyclic forces to induce sutural osteogenesis. The active elements are vibrational, ultrasonic or oscillatory components. The epigenetic-pneumopedic appliance cooperates with an actuator or other expansion mechanism, such as suture spring, that straddles the midline of the appliance. The appliance further includes tooth-contacting material having high-elasticity, such as pre-formed alloys that form 3-D axial springs, which adapt to the long axis of the palatal/lingual surfaces of the teeth. The appliance also includes a plurality of micro-screws 2 along with driving means preferably consisting of either an electrical, ultrasonic (vibrational) meso-motor, or, alternatively, a micro-motor. The epigenetic-pneumopedic appliance may be used with directional bite props.

1. A pneumopedic-orthodontic appliance for inducing remodeling of craniofacial hard and soft tissues, the appliance comprising:
 a removable oral framework consisting of a continuous body wire/archform wherein the continuous body wire/archform incorporates an omega loop in the midline with contiguous contra-loops, and includes extensions adapted to overlay an occlusal surface of posterior teeth bilaterally; 
 a contacting material adapted to contact a tooth, the contacting material is coupled to the archform and is adapted to contact the palatal/lingual surface of at least one tooth; wherein the contacting material having the ability to produce and transmit intermittent, cyclic signals and wherein the contacting material comprises at least one 3-D axial spring; 
 a midline suture spring, which permits separation of said archform, wherein the archform includes a plurality of archform-C-clasps, which are anchored to said archform and are adapted to attach to said posterior teeth bilaterally; 
 an anterior split acrylic bite plane, which extends over said archform and said contacting material; and 
 a wrap-round labial bow having at least one bow-C-clasp for retention and U loops for adjustability. 
 
     
     
       2. A pneumopedic-orthodontic appliance adapted to induce remodeling of craniofacial hard and soft tissues and tissue spaces including teeth, a palate in an upper arch and a lingual mucosa of a lower arch, the appliance comprising:
 an oral appliance comprising a continuous body wire/archform having a midline, the continuous body wire/archform incorporating an omega loop disposed at the midline with at least one contiguous contra-loop, and the continuous body wire/archform being adapted to extend or overlay the palate in the upper arch and the lingual mucosa of the lower arch; 
 at least one directional bite prop adapted to arrange on an occlusal surface of selected teeth either unilaterally or bilaterally; 
 a tooth-contacting material coupled to the continuous body wire/archform, the tooth-contacting material being adapted to contact a palatal/lingual surface of at least one tooth wherein the tooth-contacting material has the ability to produce and transmit intermittent, cyclic signals to said palatal/lingual surface of said tooth and wherein the tooth-contacting material comprises at least one 3-D axial spring; 
 a midline suture spring being adapted to permit separation of the continuous body wire/archform, further comprising at least one archform-C-clasp coupled to the continuous body wire/archform wherein the continuous body wire/archform is adapted to attach to posterior teeth bilaterally; 
 an anterior split biteplane extending over the continuous body wire/archform and the tooth contacting materials; and 
 a wrap-round labial bow with at least one bow-C-clasp for retention and at least one U-loop for adjustability. 
 
     
     
       3. The appliance of  claim 2  wherein the contacting material further comprises:
 a lever arm of a vibrational meso-motor capable of producing intermittent, cyclic signaling. 
 
     
     
       4. The appliance of  claim 2  wherein the contacting material further comprises:
 a means for creating a vibratory signal which is adapted to contact the palatal/lingual surface of one tooth, the means for creating a vibratory signal further comprising ultrasonic technology and the means for creating a vibratory signal couples to the continuous body wire/archform. 
 
     
     
       5. The appliance of  claim 4  wherein the ultrasonic technology comprises:
 an actuator consisting of a suture spring disposed to straddle a midline of the appliance. 
 
     
     
       6. The appliance of  claim 4  wherein the ultrasonic technology comprises:
 at least one of the following, an ultrasonic (vibrational) meso-motor or a micro-motor. 
 
     
     
       7. The appliance of  claim 4  wherein the ultrasonic technology comprises:
 a plurality of micromechanical vibrational motors. 
 
     
     
       8. The appliance of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an extended midline suture spring adapted for the transient managements of patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.